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New D-man in for Saturday

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Manchester Phoenix will have new defensive signing Mike Lankshear in their line-up on Saturday when they travel south to Coventry for a 7pm date with the Blaze in Skydome.

With contract negotiations completed on Thursday, arrangements were made to gain the necessary international transfer clearance and organise the flights from Toronto into Manchester on Saturday morning in time for the afternoon bus trip down the M6.

Head coach Rick Brebant remarked, “Mike is a big kid who knows the scene here in the UK having iced with the Newcastle Vipers last season in the FBNL. We’ve been talking to his agent for a couple of weeks and now, I’m pleased to say that things have worked out. Mike has been playing in the Quebec Senior league in recent weeks and so is already in good game shape.”

Originally from Burlington Ontario, Mike Lankshear stands 6ft 3ins and weighs in around the 200-pound mark. A left shot defenceman, he was selected in the third round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs while playing for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. Since turning professional, he has played extensively in the East and West Coast Hockey Leagues before playing on Tyneside last season.

Brebant added, “The last 72 hours have been hectic as we searched for players. As well as Mike Lankshear, we got a verbal agreement today on a forward and we are now waiting a signed contract sheet back from him. If that piece of paper hits our fax early enough on Friday, we might have two new faces on Saturday – it’s finger crossing time.”

Player Profile

• Profile for Mike Lankshear